WAS EMPEROR JOSEPH I A JOSEPHINIST?

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Vendulka Valentová

Abstract

The author aims at answering the question whether Joseph I was a josephinist, a question posed years ago by Valentin Urfus. She evaluates basic actions of Joseph I during his short reign. She concludes that it can be explicitly said that to some degree, he indeed was one. His ideas of reforming the administration and law can definitely be characterized as mostly pre-Enlightenment, but we do not know if Joseph I would implement them had he reigned longer. One idea that was definitely almost Enlightenment-based was one on abolishing corvée labor. Joseph II followed up in this aim without success, but managed at least to abolish serfdom in 1781.

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